Event Title
Designed to Die: Costume Designing
Faculty Mentor
Joel Griffis
Keywords
Joel Griffis
Abstract
Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman depicts growth and decay; hope and despair. This circle of life is depicted not only in the characters’ actions, but in the very clothes they wear. My design concept of urban decay and gentrification plays heavily on colors, staying true to period style, and subtle attention to detail. Each character has their own color that depicts his or her situation and or theme. This subtle variation in color gives clear character association without brightening this otherwise dark play. The idea that with age we lose our vitality and “color” plays heavily in the costume choices. Older characters have lost their color which is evident by comparison of their flashback costumes and the younger characters. New life and rebirth is expressed by the younger characters, playing into the idea of decay and gentrification. With the death of one character, new life is given to another. The idea of give and take, life from death, and organic vs. man made is evident in the script and shown in the costume choices. These juxtapositions add a visual overtone of conflict between two opposing forces that are in a constant state of flux; wearing on the characters and the audience psyches creating a sense of despair and hope; central themes in this play.
Session Name:
Poster Children: Costumes and Concepts
Start Date
4-4-2014 9:00 AM
End Date
4-4-2014 10:00 AM
Location
HSB 211
Designed to Die: Costume Designing
HSB 211
Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman depicts growth and decay; hope and despair. This circle of life is depicted not only in the characters’ actions, but in the very clothes they wear. My design concept of urban decay and gentrification plays heavily on colors, staying true to period style, and subtle attention to detail. Each character has their own color that depicts his or her situation and or theme. This subtle variation in color gives clear character association without brightening this otherwise dark play. The idea that with age we lose our vitality and “color” plays heavily in the costume choices. Older characters have lost their color which is evident by comparison of their flashback costumes and the younger characters. New life and rebirth is expressed by the younger characters, playing into the idea of decay and gentrification. With the death of one character, new life is given to another. The idea of give and take, life from death, and organic vs. man made is evident in the script and shown in the costume choices. These juxtapositions add a visual overtone of conflict between two opposing forces that are in a constant state of flux; wearing on the characters and the audience psyches creating a sense of despair and hope; central themes in this play.